Thursday, October 25, 2012

Fraser Island

Fraser Island

We spent a whole day on Fraser Island
and it really was an adventure. We were in a group of 2 Toyota
Landcruisers (4.7 liter engines) with a total of 16 people. Two of
them were drivers and guides of course and there was also Goomblar, a
big Aboriginal man with an enormous hairy head. We were picked up and
a ferry took us on the island (120 kms long, various widths from app.
10-20 kms). Nothing but sand, like the Dutch will know from the
dunes. There are enormous beaches and some sand roads, rather tracks,
through the rainforest that covers the entire island.

As it hadn't rained for a very long
time the sand was very dry and soft, Fritz, our 66-year old driver,
had to sprint through many stretches. Imagine the big Landcruiser at
high speed and roaring motor racing, bumping and skidding through a
narrow lane in the forest and on the beach. It took some time to come
at ease in the skidding, jumping and roaring car. It seems to be
neccessary to take very soft spots with high speed in order not to
get stuck. I think our son Teunis had this experience himself with a
rented Landcruiser in Oman once. To make it more spectacular, after a
short time one of the mufflers of our car became loose, imagine the
roar.

But the island is beautiful and it was
all very worth while. We drove over the beach, many other 4WDs
around, many kilometers, saw an old shipwreck and beautifully
coloured sand cliffs. Because of a gale warning, the wind was already
very strong and so was the surf, we had to return earlier than
planned. As a matter of fact we were experiencing the two most windy
days of the whole year.

Then, driving back over the beach,
imagine our surprise, when right in front of us a 4WD-bus caught
fire. A little plume of smoke initially and then suddenly the vehicle
was totally ablaze. Fortunately all passengers could get out in time.
A frightening sight.

Later, on a quiet spot in the bush, we
had lunch with beer and champagne even, and Goomblar gave a
performance in which he told about his culture, played the didgeridoo
and had us do some traditional dances. Quite amusing, funny but also
very seriously meant and instructive. One wouldn't be surprised to
learn that one of the basis of the Aboriginal culture is “respect”.

The group we were with, Australians,
Dutch, Belgians, Americans, was very agreeable and after we had
roared and bounced back off the island we were all very satisfied
with this special day.